尖吻腹自然越冬沿穴的结构观察

为了解决尖吻腹在人工饲养条件下难以安全越冬的问题,在黄山地区对尖吻腹的自然越冬进行了数年的调查,陆续观察了23个越冬洞穴的结构。初步总结了尖吻腹自然越冬的生态,并用数据和图示方式详细地报道了尖吻腹自然越冬洞穴的构造,介绍了人工饲养过程中保证尖吻腹安全越冬的管理方法。     

尖吻蝮人工养殖灌喂技术研究

目的探讨采用灌喂器人工灌喂尖吻蝮技术的可行性。方法采用湖南京湘源蛇类养殖有限公司自主研制的灌喂器人工灌喂尖吻蝮,观察记录随机抽取的30条尖吻蝮幼蛇及30条尖吻蝮成蛇在机器灌喂后每条幼蛇的体重数据,每3个月测量1次,观察12个月统计尖吻蝮的体重增长情况,并与常规灌喂方法饲养的尖吻蝮进行比较。结果灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇成活率为86.67%,平均体重达（482.39±40.19）g;灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮成蛇成活率为96.67%,平均体重达（1346.13±117.51）g。而同期常规灌喂技术饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇全部死亡,尖吻蝮成蛇成活率为76.67%,平均体重（878.56±82.39）g。结论人工灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇及成蛇的体重增长快速,成活率高,值得推广。     

尖吻蝮幼蛇就地和异地人工养殖研究

目的研究尖吻蝮（Deinagkistrodon acutbus）幼蛇在人工养殖过程中的技术难关,探讨尖吻蝮幼蛇生长缓慢的原因,以提高幼蛇的成活率和生长率。方法采用湖南省永州市野生尖吻蝮种蛇产卵孵化的幼蛇,在原产地永州与非原产地广西南宁进行幼蛇的人工饲养对比实验,观察在不同地域人工饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇的生长速度。结果尖吻蝮幼蛇在本地及异地人工饲养均获得成功,尤其以南宁人工饲养的幼蛇最为明显,2010年9月饲养至2011年8月,幼蛇均重从（13．8±1．8）g增长至（198．8±80．6）g,最重的个体体重达350g。两地饲养的幼蛇均可自行捕食中华蟾蜍、老鼠及活小鸡、鸭苗,仅用1年时间将野生尖吻蝮子代幼蛇人工饲养成功。结论尖吻蝮幼蛇在本地及异地人工饲养是可行的。     

尖吻蝮幼蛇饲养技术

尖吻蝮又名蕲蛇、祁蛇、五步蛇、棋盘蛇,喜生活在１００～１３５０ｍ高山区,唯我国特有品种。近年来,因大肆捕捉,野生资源大为减少,难以满足社会需求。因此,发展人工养蛇,特别养幼蛇,具有广阔发展前景。现介绍尖吻蝮孵化和幼蛇人工饲养技术：１孵化尖吻蝮为卵生蛇...     

圈养尖吻蝮雌体大小、窝卵数和卵大小之间的关系

尖吻蝮(Deinagkistrodon acutus)野生资源日益枯竭,食用和药用压力巨大,亟需开展人工养殖。目前尖吻蝮的人工养殖技术还不够成熟,大多数养殖场采用半地下室饲养尖吻蝮,有关该条件下尖吻蝮的繁殖特性报道较少。为促进尖吻蝮的人工养殖,2010年4—9月,在湖南永州市对半地下室圈养的尖吻蝮成体的体型指标、窝卵数、窝卵重、卵重等繁殖特征之间的关系进行了研究。结果表明:圈养尖吻蝮成年雌体产单窝柔性卵,平均窝卵数为23.0±7.8(13—37)枚(n=23);将产后雌体体重和窝卵重相加记为产前雌体体重,采用SPSS 13.0软件处理数据,设置α=0.05和α=0.01,发现产前雌体体重分别与窝卵数、窝卵重、卵重均呈显著相关性;产前雌体体长分别与窝卵数、窝卵重、卵重无显著相关性;窝卵数与卵重无显著相关性,卵重分别与卵短径、卵长径均呈显著相关性。产前体重在1000—1200 g之间的雌蛇所产窝卵数和单枚卵重的数值均较大且最集中,这保证了雌体繁殖输出后代的生存优势,对尖吻蝮人工养殖挑选雌性种蛇有一定的指导意义。     

食物种类对尖吻蝮幼蛇开口率的影响研究

目的观察投喂不同食物时尖吻蝮（Dienagkistrodon acutus）幼蛇的开口率,研究尖吻蝮幼蛇对食物的选择性,寻找最适宜的尖吻蝮幼蛇开口饵料;研究气味对尖吻蝮进食行为的影响,为人工配合饲料开发提供理论基础。方法将尖吻蝮幼蛇随机分组,在相同条件下对幼蛇进行饲养,分别使用泽蛙、幼体蟾蜍、SD大鼠的乳鼠、昆明种小鼠幼鼠、大麦虫、蚯蚓、中华蟋蟀、蟑螂对尖吻蝮幼蛇进行投喂,并统计开口率;在黑暗条件下投喂新鲜的死泽蛙和小鼠肉块,减少振感和食物与环境间温差对尖吻蝮的刺激,观察记录尖吻蝮的进食行为。结果尖吻蝮幼体开口率与食物种类有明显相关性,对蛙类和鼠类的开口率较高,而对昆虫类几乎无捕食。同时存在多种食物时尖吻蝮对食物有一定选择性,对运动较活跃和体温较高的食物选择性高。尖吻蝮可凭借气味寻找到食物并完成进食,对死食的进食率较活食低。结论 （1）泽蛙和幼鼠是尖吻蝮幼蛇的理想开口饵料;（2）尖吻蝮捕食过程中,除依赖视觉、震感、颊窝红外热感等感知食物外,还可通过气味来识别食物。     

野外尖吻蝮迁移活动和捕食行为的观察

我国特有种尖吻蝮（Agkistrodon acutus）的驯养研究广大学者和专业户做了大量突出的工作。但对野外生态的研究还有待深入。近30年来．作者结合“尖吻蝮人工驯养”进行研究,在皖南歙县、黟县、休宁、祁门等周边地区作了数百次实地考查,并走访当地居民和有经验的捕蛇者,对尖吻蝮的野外生态、栖息环境、生活习性有了深层次的了解,为人工驯养繁殖尖吻蝮奠定坚实的基础。现报告如下。     

尖吻蝮仔蛇的人工模拟生态养殖试验

目的通过建立一个适应于尖吻蝮仔蛇生长发育的稳定的多功能生态系统的人工模拟生态养殖蛇场,以最大限度地降低仔蛇的饲料成本,从而达到降低人工养殖尖吻蝮蛇的成本。方法选取一个室外围墙式养蛇场作为试验基地。设计为适应于蛇、蛙、昆虫、蚯蚓、小杂鱼等动物生长繁衍的人工模拟生态环境,建立一个稳定的多功能蛇场生态系统,以尖吻蝮蛇100条,在试验以前随机抽取10条测量其体重和体长,并以活体动物饲料喂养法和科学饲养管理法进行试验养殖,并在进入第一、第二次冬眠前均随机抽取10条蛇仔测其体重和体长。结果本次试验与本蛇场室内人工饲养尖吻蝮仔蛇相比,不仅在体重、体长和肥满度方面均相差不大,而且仔蛇的存活率还有所提高。结论表明该人工模拟生态养殖蛇场能够满足尖吻蝮仔蛇生长发育的需要,达到了预期的目的。     

尖吻蝮(Deinagkistron acutus)生长过程不同时期排毒量及蛇毒组分的变化

对人工培育的4个年龄段尖吻蝮蛇毒和野生成体尖吻蝮蛇毒进行了聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析.结果显示3龄以前尖吻蝮蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱,无论是在分带、泳动率及相应组分的量等方面,均呈现一定的差异,但随着尖吻蝮蛇龄的增长,蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱与野生成蛇蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱越来越接近.3龄尖吻蝮生长发育达到性成熟,其蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱与野生成蛇趋于一致.蛇毒组分的变化,提示了尖吻蝮的生长发育进程.     

尖吻蝮（Deinagkistrodon acutus）生长过程不同时期排毒量及蛇毒组分的变化

对人工培育的4个年龄段尖吻蝮蛇毒和野生成体尖吻蝮蛇毒进行了聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析。结果显示：3龄以前尖吻蝮蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱,无论是在分带、泳动率及相应组分的量等方面,均呈现一定的差异,但随着尖吻蝮蛇龄的增长,蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱与野生成蛇蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱越来越接近。3龄尖吻蝮生长发育达到性成熟,其蛇毒蛋白电泳图谱与野生成蛇趋于一致。蛇毒组分的变化,提示了尖吻蝮的生长发育进程。     

高寒地区植食性小哺乳动物的越冬对策

利用多年工作积累的观察资料 ,讨论几种植食性小哺乳动物的越冬对策。其中 ,高原鼢鼠、甘肃鼠兔和根田鼠均贮存食物 ,以减少寒冷条件下的取食暴露。高原鼢鼠以个体为单位贮存和利用贮存食物 ,相互之间不协作 ;而两种地面活动的种类则可能以家庭为单位贮存和分享越冬食物。喜马拉雅旱獭体型较大 ,不贮存食物 ,它以冬眠方式越冬 ,这是一种对食物依赖最小的方式。高原鼠兔 ,既不贮存食物 ,也不进入冬眠 ,而是主要靠增加身体产热能力来保持体温 ,抵御严寒。作者认为 ,动物自身的生理限制、生活方式、环境条件以及捕食风险等诸多因素的综合作用决定动物的越冬对策。     

Cold resistance and overwintering survival of the cabbage root fly,Delia radicum (Anthomyiidae), and its parasitoid,Trybliographa rapae (Cynipidae), in England

Summary Overwintering Delia radicum (L.) in a field of swedes (Brassica napus L.) near Ascot, Berks., England, were exposed to soil temperatures below 10°C on 176 days from 21 October 1983 to 22 April 1984, but no temperatures below 0°C were recorded. Collections of D. radicum taken at monthly intervals from 1 November 1983 to 30 April 1984 showed that parasitism by the cynipid Trybliographa rapae (Westw.) and by the staphylinid Aleochara bilineata Gyll. was the main source of mortality. A substantial increase in parasitism by A. bilineata occurred during November, but much of the increase was by superparasitism of pupae previously parasitized by T. rapae. Mortality from causes other than parasitism was greater in the November and December collections (c. 22%) and in the spring (c. 12%) than during the winter (c. 3%) and could not be attributed to low temperatures.In all collections, most of the adult D. radicum (c. 90%) emerged within 230°D_5.6. The mean number of °D_5.6 to eclosion did not change from 1 November to 5 March but decreased significantly by 2 April. Late-emerging adults remired 259 to 992°D_5.6 to eclosion and no changes in the nean number of °D occurred among collections.Among unparasitized D. radicum, individual supercooling points showed a strong peak at c.-23°C. A significant proportion of pupae with supercooling points above-20°C were found only in the 1 November 1983 and the 30 April 1984 collections. The high supercooling points in the November collection may have comprised apparently healthy but moribund individuals, whereas in the April collection they may have included individuals that had initiated postdiapause development. The mean supercooling point of individuals in the low category (supercooling points 20°C) did not vary among monthly samples. Parasitism by T. rapae increased the variability in supercooling points, resulting in a few individuals with lower, and many more with higher supercooling points than among unparasitized individuals. The mean supercooling point increasing from the collections of November and December to those of January to April.Puparia containing unparasitized D. radicum pupae were heavier and contained more water than those with parasitized pupae, but neither group showed significant ranges over winter. Supercooling points were positively correlated with puparial live weight among unparasitized but not among parasitized pupae. Supercooling points were not correlated with water content for either group.Parasitism did not affect the occurrence or concentration of sugars and polyhydric alcohols (all<1% of fresh weight), and trehalose, glucose and mannitol were the most abundant. D. radicum can be considered to be over-protected from lethal freezing in the pupal stage and its high supercooling capacity in England may persist because it is conferred by the structural properties of the dipteran puparium and pupa within it and therefore is not subject to selection pressures.     

Survival of the external mycelium of a VAM fungus in frozen soil over winter

The present investigation examines (1) whether the external VAM mycelium survives winter freezing to act as a source of inoculum in the spring, and (2) whether soil disturbance reduces the infectivity of the external VAM mycelium following freezing of the soil. Sealed pouches of fine nylon mesh were placed in pots containing soil inoculated with a Glomus species. The mesh was impervious to roots but not to hyphae. Following two 3-week growth cycles of maize in the pots, the pouches were transplanted to the field. Pouches were removed from the field once during the 4 months when the soil was frozen, and once after spring thaw. Measurements were made of VAM spore density, hyphal length and viability in the pouches. Bioassays for infectivity were conducted on all pouches. Some VAM hyphae survived freezing and remained infective following winter freezing, in the absence of plant roots. Soil disturbance did not reduce the infectivity of hyphae following exposure to freezing temperatures. We observed a change in the distribution of viable cytoplasm within hyphae over winter, which we hypothesize represents an adaptation allowing hyphae to survive freezing temperatures. We suggest that the effect of disturbance on hyphal infectivity may be related to this seasonal change in the distribution of hyphal viability.     

Studies on the population dynamics of a thistle-feeding lady beetle,Henosepilachna pustulosa (Kôno) in a cool temperate climax forest

Population Ecology -     

Phenology and abundance of date palm mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of management practices, fruit season, host habitats (young and old fronds, date fruits and grasses), and temperature on the phenology and abundance of the date palm mite (DPM). The study was conducted in two date palm orchards (two plots each): a managed and an unmanaged plot. The phenology of DPM was assessed based on adult cumulative mite days (ACMDs), while mean mite density was used to assess the mite abundance on different host habitats. The ACMDs and mean mite density were significantly different between managed and unmanaged plots on different host habitats in both fruiting and off-seasons. The date fruits had highest ACMDs during fruiting season. While young fronds had significantly higher ACMDs than on old fronds an grasses during both seasons in both plots.. The temperature and season type significantly affected the mean density of DPM eggs and adults. There was a significant effect of host habitats mean density of DPM eggs and immatures. Based on the adult phenology and abundance of DPM, the mite overwinters in young fronds and aerial offshoots of infested date palm trees. These overwintering DPM caused the seasonal date fruit infestation, each year. Additionally, different phytophagous and predatory mites, which co-occur with DPM, and were found on different host habitats affected the phenology and abundance of DPM. Moreover, the change in DPM body color was related to the host habitat that they fed in. Exceptionally, the brown color of females collected during the winter season could be due to physiological changes due to low temperature. In DPM males collected from different host habitats throughout the study, some morphological variations in the width of the knob, height of the hook, and the angle between the knob axis and dorsal margin of the shaft were also recorded. The results of this study suggest that young fronds and grasses are the suitable sites for DPM survival and overwintering. Hence, the management practices, early in the fruit season and/or during off fruit winter months, should be directed towards these habitats. These could provide efficient reduction in seasonal infestation of DPM.     

Future risk of the maize orange leafhopper,Cicadulina bipunctata,and maize wallaby ear symptom in temperate Japan

Since the 1980s, the maize orange leafhopper, Cicadulina bipunctata, has been gradually expanding its range in east Asia associated with global warming. This leafhopper induces maize wallaby ear symptom (MWES) on young maize plants and has become a threat to forage maize production in southern parts of temperate Japan since around 2000. In this study, using predictions of future temperature and precipitation calculated from Atmosphere–Ocean Coupled General Circulation Models, the future risk of C. bipunctata expansion and MWES occurrence in Japan (spatial resolution: 1 km²) was predicted. A nominal logistic regression analysis showed a significant contribution of cumulative low temperature during winter to the current distribution of C. bipunctata. The range of C. bipunctata was predicted to expand northward, particularly in Kyushu, Shikoku and the southern part of Honshu after the 2060s. Predicted intensification of MWES would reduce the efficacy of maize cultivars that are currently tolerant to MWES, in southern Kyushu in the 2020s, and in most parts of Kyushu, Shikoku and southwestern Honshu in the 2060s. These results suggest the need for measures to counter further expansion of C. bipunctata and improvement of current tolerant maize cultivars.